samuel alfred reading



Fginitrh glatte latcnt @frn JOHN READING, SAMUEL ALFRED READING, GEORGEEDWARD READING, AND FREDERICK FRANCIS READING, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

Lena-s Patent No. metadata March 24, 186,8.

IMPROVED BELT-GLAS?.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Beit' known that we, JOHN READING, SAMUEL ALrnnD READING, Geenen EDWARDREADING, and FREDERICK FRANCIS READING, of Birmingham, in the'county ofWarwick, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Belt andother Dress-Fastenngs; and we do hereby declare that the following is alfull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable othersskilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being .had totheaccompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecitication.4 4

Our invention relates to the manner of constructing and perfecting theaction of the catch-mechanism of belt-plates; and while it isapplicable-tn .other wear, is more particularly designed for ladiesbelts, garters, cloak-fastenings, and the fastenings of such t? theirdress-appendages for which it may be found expedient to apply it at anyfuture time. i

It consists, in principle, of a bolt-catch or catches working againstthev tension of a helical or other spring `or springs, the said boltbeing in a case at the back of the belt-plate,A and presenting aprojection or thumb-bit for depressing the bolt against the tension ofthe said spring, andthereby releasing the catch or catches upon theotherend of the belt or1 dress-appendage, as willv be hereinafter morefully set forth.

This invention is susceptible of many modifications or modifiedapplications, all partaking essentially of the same' principle as totheaction of the catch-mechanism; and we will first describe in detail theconstruction and operation ofthe belt-fastening, and then proceed' toset forth a certain number of modifications of the invention,toascertain and illustrate its several applications, as aforesaid. t

Heretofore ladies belts were fastened by clasps, buckles, slides, andsuch like devices, all of which were imperfect for the purpose desired,and their use was attended with certain disadvantages in each case. Ourimprovements supply an article which is at once cheap and durable, andof satisfactory operation tothe wearer.

In Figure 1 is shown a back view of the belt-platevhich bears a case forcontaining the catch-bolt and` its action. A is the plate, and B thecase, which latter'may be formed by the attachment of a. separateplate,` bent to form the case, or may be a recess stamped in and formedwholly or partially by the metal of the plate A. B is the bolt, slottedin the manner shown, which leaves a central tongue, a, around which iscoiled a. helical spring, b, as shown. This spring exerts its tension tokeep the bolt up, and present a yielding elastic resistance to theentrance upon its catches, z', of 'the other or corresponding catches,which form part of a terminal plate of the belt. Each terminal plate isshown at C, and e c are its catches, which, entering in upon` thecatches z' of the bolt, presentl their inclined edges to the inblinededges of the bolt-catches, and cause the latter to recede against theelastic force of the spring b until the shoulders of the catches in eachpart pass beyond each other, when the bolt-catches will return with afirm snap, and hold the terminal catches in a firm and positiveconnection. The spring b exerts its tension uponlthe bolt h by theimpinging of-one of its terminal coils upon the ends of the slots in thebolt B, before mentioned, while the terminal coil of the opposite endimpinges upon thc'end of the slot r in the case B, which slot is madefor that purpose, and also to provide a location for the spring toinsure its perfect action. A slot or Opening is left in the side of thecase B, for the entrance of the catches c c of the. terminal plate C,and the said catches, ,in entering the said opening, bear against' theupper edge of it, and arc thus 'prevented from yielding, while theycause the yielding of the boltcatches, as aforesaid. The said edgeserves to assist in holding the catches e e when caught andengaged bythe bolt-catches. A Wire, is secured rigidly to, or forms part of, theterminal plate C, and a similar wire is fornied on or attached to therear of the catch-bolt plate A, as shown. To these wires the belt isfastened, by sewing or eyelet-rivets, as may be mostsuitable; The bolt Bis made with suilicient width to slide with easy contact in 'the case B,and the catches it' of the said bolt, together with the `slots formingthe tongue a, are stamped or cut on the bolt, thus leaving its parts inone and the same piece.` The same is likewise truc of the catches of theterminal plate C. A stud or pin, t, projects from the rear face of thebolt, andworks in the slot r of the case B, as shown. This slot limitsthe upward movement f the bolt, as will be obvious. One extremity of thebolt (generally the upper one) is reduced somewhat, and lrojects beyondboth the case and the plate A a short distance, for the purpose ofserving as a thumb-bit, so called, upon which the wearer presses.

with the thumb to'disengage the catches and leave the belt free to betaken off. This thumb-hit is shown at m, and its extreme end is upset orflanged, whereby it serves to limit the downward movement of the bolt bycoming in contact with the case B. l

Figure 2. In fig. l the terminal plate C was intended only as aneccssarypart or base of its catches c e, and when the belt was fastenedaround the wearer, was hidden from, view by the plate A, which coveredit; but in fig. 2 this plate is modified, and forms an adjunct to alarger plate, A', which gives an ornamentai appearance to the fastening,and is, perhaps, easier to catch and uncatch in the act of putting onand taking off the belt. The clutch-mechanism is, however, identicalwith that of fig. l. The rim d is attached to the plate A' in thisfigure.

Figure 3 is a cross-section of fig. i2, and exhibits the position ofthecatch terminal plate C, which may forrh a continuous part ofthe plateA', or may be soldered or riveted thereto.

Figure 4 exhibits a modification of tlie'bolt and terminal plate, thesingle bolt being replaced by two bolts, and the catches e c of theterminal plate turned facing each other, so as to engage the catches ofboth bolts, as shown To unclasp the belt, the wearer has only to pressupon the projecting thumb-bits with the finger and thumb, and the boltswill recede and liberate the catches e c of the pla-te C.

Figure 5 exhibits a. modification, suitable for garters or arm-straps,though applicable also for'bclts, collarfastenings for eloaks, and otherdress-appenrlages. In this modification the wires UZ are substituted foroblong rings cl formed on the plates A and A', and by which thebelt,strap, or garter is attached. The catches e e form an adjunct to theplate A', and the two plates A and A fit closely to each other with avertical-linejoint, whereby the ornamentation of the parts is continuedfrom one to the other, and thc crnamented lines or figure thereon isshown perfect only when the parts are brought together.V A front view ofthese plates is, shown at X.

Figure 6 exhibits a modification, applicable for fastcnings of shawls,coats, or cloalis, in the form of an embossed brooch,`to which the caseB, as in the before-described figures, can be attached by solder,rivets, or otherwise, and a. catch-bolt, similar in principle to thoseset forth in the foregoing, fitted to operate therein. The edge of thecatch-plate C, and likewise the edge of the plate C', attached to thebrooch and case, are perforated, as shown, for `the purpose of beingscwed to the shawl or cloak. The bolt-mechanism and operation of thismodification are-almost identical with that shown at fig. l; butitsarrangement presents an even surface on the rear of the brooch, forwhich reason it is preferable to the others for this purpose.

Figure 7 exhibits a'further modification, suitable as a broochor otherfastening. The parts A and A', when brought together, form a disk of anydesired form andornamentation. To the rear of the plate A is attachedthe case B, containing a bolt, B', which 4is slotted for the receptionof the spring, which latter,vin this case, exerts its tension at one endagainst the end of the case B, as shown. The catch of the bolt consistsof projection t', which catches into a slot, e, on the plate C, whichlatter is soldered or riveted to the plate A'. The detail parts of thisfigure sufficiently exhibit its manner of operation. The holes in theplate C are for the purpose of fastening it to any fabric.

Figure 8 exhibits an application of our invention to corset, stay orlegging-busks, and its construction is, in principle, similar to thatset forthA in the foregoing. M- is one part, to which is rivetedthe-catches e e e. The corresponding part, N, is a hollow metallic case,of the form shown, and containing within it the catch-v bolts E' andtheir springs b, which latter rest against the ends ofthe slots r, theseslots also serving to limit the extension of the springs, as in thepreceding instances. Lateral openings, forl the entrance o'f the catchese, are shown at e z z, through which the said catches pass, and theprojections t' on the bolts catch into the slots in the said catches c,and thereby accomplish the connection of the parts M and N. 'l'oliberate those parts, the tongues Z are cut and stamped up inthe mannershown, and seated therein are bosses u, which, when the tongues larepressed upon, actuate the bolt within against the tensioirof its spring,which raises the projections z' from out the'slots in theprojectionsa'thus liberating them from the connection, so that there issufiicient elasticity resident in the metal of theA tongue to providethe slight spring tension requisite for returning the bosses to theirfirst position. The sectional view is taken through the line y y.

Figure 9 exhibits a modification of our invention applicable to lcggingsor stay-basks, so called. Mrepre. sents the one leather part, to whichare fastened, by rivets or otherwise, these cases B, containing boltsmade with a single catch, t', as shown. To theother leather part, N, isattached by rivets the catch-plates C. In this modification the boltsare actuated by thumb-bits m, as before described. The middlecatch-plate is not riveted rigidly to the part N, but works by a. slotunder rivet-button L, in the manner shown, whereby .it 'is easier toengage or disenga-ge the catch c. j

Figure 10 exhibits the fastening when applied to any broad band orarticle 0f dress. lThe two plates are shown attached, by rivets g, tothe fabric or leather logging. IEllis figure is more particularly theapplicmim, of the fastening shown and described at fig. 7.

Figurell exhibits an ornamental fastening involving the same principleas .set forth in the foregoing. It is applicable as a fastening forshawls or capes, and consists of a case, B, having a perforated flange,p, for attaching it to a garment or dress-appendage. A similar flange,p', has catches e, as shown. The bolt B ter. minutes in a handleresembling that of a Roman sword. Thisbolt is actuated by a spring, d;and the projecntches e, also serve as guides to steady the holt in thecaseB.l The tions z', for catching into thc slots of the c f thefastening at z', the front view of the same at z", and the bolt is shownseparately on 2,-thc back view o internal action of the bolt and catchesat z', thus forming an attractive ornamental fastening.

The parts forming these which they produce is cheap, durable, simple,and effective.

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thedress-fastening or clasp, consisting of a bolt orbolts, B', operatingwithin a case, B, or its eqnim.

ahove-dcscribed improvements are easily produced by stamping, and thefastening lent, and provided with a catch or catches, z', and a springor springs, 5, each or all in combination with a catch or catches, e, orthe equivalent thereof, and all constructed and operating substantiallyas and for the purpose shown and described.

2. The slot`r, in combination with the case B and spring Zw of abelt-clasp or other fastening for dressappendages, for the purpose ofholding and providing a point of resistance to the said spring b, andalso serving as a stop to the pin tof the bolt, all substantially asshown and described, and for the purpose specified.

V3. The slotted bolt B of a dress-fastening, having a ton'gle, a, or itsequivalent, for the better holding of the spring IJ, all substantiallyas shown and described, and for the purpose specified.-

4. Forming the bolt B of a dress-clasp or fastening with projectionsz'and a tongue, a., or their e'quiva'- lents, all substantiallyas shownand described, and for the purpose specified.

5. The case B, made substantially as 'shown and described, for thepurpose of ,serving as a guide for the longitudinal movementof the boltB', and for holding thesame against the lateral' traction of the beltwhen the same ison the wearer, andvalso for assisting in catching andholding the catches e e, all as set forth.

6. The spring-tongues l, in combination with the bolts B', for thepurpose of aetuatingthe latter when the formation and employment of thecase B render the thumbbit m more or less inadmissible, all as sotforth.

JOHN READING, [n A] SAMUEL ALFRED READING, [1.. 5.] GEORGE EDWARDREADING, [n s] Witnesses: FREDERICK FRANCIS READING. [n s] JAMES T.CocEINGs, WILLIAM LoAcH.

